Device for delivering written orders and messages to moving trains.



L. V. ,THAYER. DEVICE FOR DELIVERING WRITTEN ORDERSAND MESSAGES T0MOVING TRAINS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17.,1911.

988,046. Patented Mar.28,191 1.

.F -5. IEILEl G I? eras ear LOU V. THAYER, 0F ATLANTIC, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF lO MYBON A. WILLIAMS, 0F JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR DELIVERING WRITTEN ORDERS AND MESSAGES TO MOVING TRAINS.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Lou V. THAYER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Crawfordand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Delivering Written Orders and Messages toMoving Trains, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a practicable and efficientdevice for delivering written orders and messages to moving trainswithout liability of injuring the person receiving the order or message.This object is accomplished by means substantially as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

The device comprises a handle or rod A at one end of which is a largefork B substantially U-shaped in form. The arms of the fork are groovedon their outer sides, as indicated at C, the said grooves extending fromthe extremities of the arms for a distance from about one-half totwo-thirds the length of the arms, more or less, it being understoodthat the length of the grooves may be varied. The said grooves C, asthey approach the crotch or middle portion of the fork, are also twistedor deflected gradually to the front of the fork, as indicated at D. Thisformation is preferably obtained by constructing the arms of the forkfrom two semicircular or grooved strips of metal, which are attached onthe end of the handle A as shown and are twisted at E so as to providethe grooves C extending alon the outer sides of the arms of the fork. Atthe end of the handle or rod A, on the front side of the device, is aclasp F, which may consist of a flat leaf spring affixed to the rod andpressing down thereon, the free end of the spring being disposed towardthe arms of the fork.

The manner of using the device is as follows: A string or cord G, towhich the written order or message is to be attached, is strung upon thefork and the ends of the string tied together, forming what may betermed a loop. This string loop is strung upon the fork by running thestring in the grooves C, drawing it comparatively taut,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1911.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911. Serial No. 603,168.

and inserting the string under the spring or clasp F. Preferably anumber of loops of proper size are prepared beforehand, to be used asoccasion arises. The written order or message is attached to the stringor loop by any suitable means, as, for example, by means of a clip orfastener, or by tying, or plnnlng the paper to the string, or byfastening the flap of the envelop over the string, or in any other waythat may be convenient or desirable. Preferably the order or message isattached to the portion of the string between the extremities of thearms of the fork, but where a number of messages or orders are to bedelivered at once, they may be attached to any portion of the st ing, tothe exposed portion at the middle of the fork as well as to the portionof the string lying in the grooves C. When the device is thus equipped,the station agent holds it by the rod or handle A with the fork B insuch position that the engineer, brakeman, conductor or other person onthe approaching train can run his arms through the string loop andthereby detach the loop with its attached papers from the fork, thusreceiving the orders or messages.

It will be observed that by reason of the twisting of the arms of thefork, and the gradual deflection of the grooves G to the front of thefork, a smooth continuous surface is presented at D, and hence the loopwill easily detach from the fork without danger of becoming caught.

The arms of the fork are preferably made of sheet steel, which allows aconsiderable flexibility, so that the arms of the fork will yield whenthe loop is strung thereon and brought under the clasp for making ittaut, and the quick detachment of the taut loop is facilitated. Theflexibility of the fork also enables it to yield in case of being struckby the arm of the conductor or other person on the train, thus avoidinga hard blow such as would be encountered by striking a rigid object.

Instead of the device being held in the hand of the station agent, itmay, of course, be held in a suitable rack or holder provided for thatpurpose.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device for delivering written orders and messages to moving trainscomprising a handle having a U-shaped fork at one end and provided withthe handle and twisted adjacent the attached ends, whereby the grooveswill extend over 5 the rear faces of the strips and along the outersides thereof, and a loop engaged by the clasp and extending through thegrooves and between the ends of the arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 20 in presence of twowitnesses.

LOU V. THAYER.

Witnesses ROLAND J. GREEN, RUTH DU Mons.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

